Appalachian Spring Gala Long Listen Festival 2025

Concert 6: Chamber Music Gala

Genre: Classical

Time: Sunday 5 October, 2:30–4:30 PM

Venue: Palmwoods Memorial Hall

About Our Gala: 

The Chamber Music Gala is the beating heart of the Long Listen Festival, a celebration of collaboration, mentorship, and the timeless power of ensemble playing. 

Bringing together our Festival Chamber Orchestra, established festival artists, Sunshine Coast based classical musicians, and the next generation of emerging talent, this concert unites musicians across three generations in a joyous exploration of Australian voices alongside beloved international works.

The program pairs roots and minimalism with classical tradition, featuring a world premiere and festival commission from celebrated Australian composer Nicole Murphy, alongside music by Elena Kats-Chernin, Sally Whitwell, Brenda Gifford, Ian Munro, Caroline Shaw, and Aaron Copland. Finishing the concert with pizazz are folk-inspired gems arranged by the Danish String Quartet performed by our Festival String Quartet.

With its balance of intimate and energising chamber works and the expansive sound of Copland’s Appalachian Spring, this gala concert promises to be both uplifting and unifying, embodying the festival’s spirit of listening forward.

Festival Artists include:

Courtenay Cleary (violin), Samuel Andrews (violin), Simon Oswell (viola), Louise King (cello), Alex Raineri (piano), Sasha Gibbs-McPhee (clarinet), Cerulean Collective plus outstanding emerging artists from UQ School of Music, Queensland Conservatorium and Queensland Youth Symphony performing side-by-side with festival musicians.

Our Gala Program:

• Sally Whitwell – Road Trip for flute & piano

• Brenda Gifford – Bardju (Footprints) for ensemble

• Elena Kats-Chernin – Butterflying for string quartet

• Ian Munro – Songs from the Bush for clarinet quintet

• Nicole Murphy – World Premiere (festival commission)

INTERVAL

• Aaron Copland – Rodeo for solo piano

• Caroline Shaw – Plan & Elevation: The Orangery

• Aaron Copland – Appalachian Spring (suite for 13 instruments)

• Folk tunes from Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (Danish String Quartet)

This project is proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Queensland Arts Showcase Program, and the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council supporting local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

This project is supported by the generosity of individual donors who supported our BOOST donor campaign matched by the Australian Government through the Australian Cultural Fund. Our fundraising partners are Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation and the Australian Cultural Fund.